The debate for the Third District was held at Fitchburg State University's Conlon Fine Arts building on Wednesday night in Fitchburg. Many held signs outside just before the debates started. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE/JOHN LOVE

The debate for the Third District was held at Fitchburg State University's Conlon Fine Arts building on Wednesday night in Fitchburg. From left during the second debate is candidates Lori Trahan, Dan Koh, Jeff Ballinger, Alexandra chandler, Juana Matias and Barbara L'Italien. SENTINEL & ENTERPRISE/JOHN LOVE

FITCHBURG — Over a year after the loss of the 2016 presidential election, Democratic Party candidates vying for the 3rd Congressional District seat wrangled with the message their party should offer constituents, during a pair of debates last night hosted by Fitchburg State University.

“We have to unite as a party and stand for something, not just against the Trump presidency,” said candidate Rufus Gifford.

The congressional hopefuls laid out some ideas on issues, from creating jobs to tackling student debt to the opioid crisis, at the debate hosted by the university, Sentinel & Enterprise, Boston Herald and Lowell Sun. The winner of the primary will move on to the general election to replace retiring U.S. Rep. Niki Tsongas.

Gifford, Leonard Golder, Bopha Malone, Patrick Littlefield and Beej Das, randomly selected to participate in the night’s first debate, all backed a $15 minimum wage, but opinions diverged on education. Only Malone said she would support free public college education.

“If you are willing to work hard and get a good education, it should be a basic human right,” she said.

Candidates wanted more congressional involvement in student-loan forgiveness, suggesting solutions such as allowing students to refinance student loans. Golder took it a step further and called for eliminating interest on student loans. Das called for erasing student loan debt.

The second debate, between Lori Trahan, Dan Koh, Jeff Ballinger, Alexandra Chandler, Juana Matias and Barbara L’Italien, again featured widespread agreement on progressive policies, but with a sharper edge and some candidates criticizing each other directly.

When asked for a top economic priority in Congress, Matias said economic inequality; Trahan and Chandler said replacing last year’s tax bill; Koh said a comprehensive jobs bill; L’Italien said stabilizing health care costs; and Ballinger said limiting the influence of money in politics.

Every candidate except Ballinger said they support a federal $15 minimum wage, and every candidate except Trahan said they support making public colleges tuition-free. Chandler also said she supports a federal job guarantee.

The second session saw a handful of barbs exchanged. While answering a question about sexual harassment in government, L’Italien said she was “disappointed” that female members of the Legislature did not do more to help Rep. Diana DiZoglio when she stood up to address the question of non-disclosure agreements — a veiled jab at Matias, herself a state representative. Matias countered she was “proud” of legislation the House passed on the topic.

L’Italien also took shots at the race’s fundraising leaders, calling out Koh and Gifford by name.

“I think we need to be talking about standing up to the top 1 percent that are really benefiting under the tax policy in this nation, and I think it’s hard to imagine that every candidate will do so when in fact some of them have taken giant money from the wealthiest 1 percent,” L’Italien said.